Earth mover



EARTH MOVER Filed Dec. 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS A k Wm wwm Wu, WW7 wwffi March 10,1942. I

'1 w. AUSTIN EI'AL EARTH MOVER Filed Dec. 11, 1939 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 VINVIENTORS [7/5W0f/fi W 115/07 Patented Mar, 10, 1942 UNITED STATES-QPATENT OFFICE ma'rn MOVER Ellsworth W. Austin and Harvey W. Rockwell,

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignors to LaPlant- Choate Manufacturing Company,Incorporated, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware ApplicationDecember 11,1939, Serial No. 308,579

17 Claims.

Our invention relates to earth movers generally embodied astractor-drawn wheeled vehicles for dislodging or scraping and carryingearth for transfer to or dumping in .a remote location, and is concernedespecially with an earth mover oi the type shown in the copendingapplication of Ellsworth W. Austin, Serial No.

, 299,299, filed October 13, 1939, and entitled Excavator, of which thisapplication is a continuation in part.

In devices of the character referred to, there is usually provided adrawn vehicle having a main bowl or comparable earth-containing in-'strumentality which is provided with a closure to retain the earthduring transportation, and a pusher for dislodging the earth when it isto be discharged. It is desirable to manipulate the earth container insuch a way as to raise and lower a cutting edge thereon as well as toadvance and retract the pusher and to open and close the end closure orfront apron.

It is likewise advisable to provide such instrumentalities in such a waythat the; can be controlled by the operator of the tractor drawing theearth mover and to provide such operator with a relatively simplecontrol device. For example, two control levers are considered to be theoptimum number.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide an earth mover inwhich the pusher and the end closure are correlated for conjointoperation.

Another object of our invention is to provide a connection between suchelements in an earth mover to afford the desired relative movementthereof.

schematic form in longitudinal vertical section,

connected to a winch-mechanism shown in diagrammatic form in transversecross-section, the earth mover being in a convenient position forexcavating; I

Fig. 2 is a diagram similar to Fig. 1 but showing the earth mover incarrying position;

Fig. 3 is a diagram similar to the preceding figures but showing theearth mover in a lower,

expelling or discharging position; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to the preceding schematic figures, showing theearth mover in a raised position for expulsion or discharge of material.

In its preferred form, the earth mover of our invention includes anearth container having a cutting edge and also having an earth pusherand a closure, the pusher and the closure being 7 related by a directpivotal connection and being actuated in company with the main bowl bymeans of a pair of control cables, one of which extends from the pusherand closure to a first winch drum which is normally frictionally brakedbut is provided with a control lever for releasing the restraint of thebrake and connecting the drum to a source of power, the pusher and theend closure being also provided with a second cable preferably relatedthrough a speed reduction to adjust the cutting edge of the main bowland extending to a second winch drum normally restrained by a frictionbrake and under the control of a second lever for releasing therestraint of. the brake and connecting the drum to a source of drivingpower.

While the earth mover of our invention can be incorporated in a verylarge number of difierent forms, depending upon surroundingcircumstances, especially upon commercial requiremerits, it isillustrated schematically or diagrammatically herein in order to showthe general principles of the invention, it being understood thatvarious mechanical modifications can be made within the ability of thoseskilled in the art.

The earth mover comprisesa vehicle, generally designated :6, which isprovided with a draft connection l ordinarily connected to a draftvehicle, such as an engine-operated tractor (not shown), although thevehicle 6 can itself carry a source of propelling power in whichinstance the draft vehicle is dispensed with; The earth mover 6 includesa pair of front dirigible wheels 8 for guiding the vehicle, which areappropriately articulated with the frame 9 connectedfby a pivotalconnection It to the opposite side walls I2 oi the device. At theirrearmost terminals the side walls I2 carry rear ground-engaging wheels Nwhich, in concert with the wheels 8, bear the weight of the vehicle.

Included in the vehicle is a bottom or earthsupporting surface II whichspans the side walls !2 and together therewith constitutes a main .tweenthe side walls l2 and is sometimes referred to as an end closure, endapron or front apron. Its general function when closed is to retainearth loaded within the main bowl, yet when open is to be in a positiondefinitely out of the way of material entering or being discharged fromthe main bowl. For that reason the front apron l'i continues its arcuatecurvature, in accordance with our invention, and is connected by apivotal connection it or a simple pivot to a carriage |9 which ispreferably constrained by any suitable means, such as a track 20 on thewalls i2 and co-operating rollers 26 on the carriage id, to rectilineartranslation relative to the side walls l2 of the main bowl, so that thepivot It moves in a straight path fore and aft as the carriage I9 ismoved. Also to determine the path of movement of the front apron ll,there is provided a linkage in the form of a strut 2! which at one endis connected by a pivot 22 to the front apron I1 and at the other end isconnected by a pivot 23 to an ear 26 projecting from the side wall 12 ofthe main bowl. The strut it permits the pivot I8 to move in arectilinear path, while the end of the frontapron ll most nearlyadjacent the cutting edge it moves in a curved ath. p The carriage I9 isrigidly fastened to and generally is included within a structureordiriarily referred to as a pusher or sometimes as a rear end gate orejector, which likewise incorporates a plate-24 extending in anapproximately vertical plane and transversely of the main bowl betweenthe walls |2; so that as the carriage I9 moves fore and aft, the wall 2%likewise so moves. Because the front apron I1 is pivoted to the pusher,the two partake of movement with respect to each other conjointly andalso move simultaneously with respect to the main bowl; but the linkageis such that for the initial forward movement of the wall 24 the loweredge of the front apron ll moves very rapidly away from the cutting edgel6, so as to give a quick and.

large initial opening of r the front apron before the wall 24 hasadvanced very far. During the intermediate portion of advancement of thewall 24 the front apron I1 is opened very widely to give an unhamperedegress from the main bowl, and during the final portion of movement ofthe 38, pivoted on the casing 33, co-operates to move the winch drumaxially of the stationary shaft 34. A spring 39 normally urges the drum32 in one direction against an adjustable stopfll which can be suitablyregulated so as to adjust the maximum-amount of frictional engagementbetween a cone 43 on the drum 32 and a similar conical seat 44 integralwith the casing 33 and controlled lever 38 away from the cone 44, the

restraint of the brake is released. and the drum passes through aneutral unrestrained position and then into engagement with a powerdriving structure. This includes a drive shaft 46 extending from thetractor power plant, for example, or from any suitable source of power,and includes a bevelgear 4? which meshes with a bevel gear d8 includedwith a power cone d9 freely rotatable on the. shaft 3 3 and engageablewall 24 the front apron I1 opens even farther;

r so that latter positions of the wall 24 are adaptable for thedischarge or receipt of an exceedingly high or voluminous body ofmaterial from or into the main bowl. These desired relative movements ofthe pusher and the front apron are made possible by directly pivotingthe front apron to the'pusher and by .then connecting the mounted withina casing 33 upon a stationary shaft- 34 anchored within the housing 33The drum 32 includes a central winch portion 36 and I a shifting collar31 with which an operating lever by a 'co-operating cone 5| at one endof the drum 32, so that when the lever 33 is moved a maximum amountagainst the restraint of the spring 39, the cones t9 and 56 are inengagement and the drum is driven by power derived from the shaft it.Thus, when the lever 38 is appropriately manipulated, the cable 3| canbe wound upon the drum 36 by power means, or when the lever is in aneutral position the cable 3| is unrestrained so far as drum rotation isconcerned, and, finally, when the lever 38 is in a braking position thecable 3| is restrained from paying out cable from the drum 36 bywhatever degree of restraint is frictionally exercised by the brake 43.The brake restraint is partially under the control of the operator, but.the maximum amount is under the control of the adjustment 4| which canbe set so as to provide for all .practical purposes an absolutefrictional lock against any movement of the cable 3| when the brake isfully applied, or can be given any intermediate degree of adjustment sothat there is any desired amount of resistance to paying out of thecable 3| from the drum 36.

A similar power mechanism is employed for retracting the pusher andlowering the front apron, but this structure also includes mechanism forperforming a further function. To the carriage I9 is attached a secondcable 6| which extends around a reversing pulley 62 mounted on the sidewall i2, and thence around a pulley 63 for convenience mounted upon theframe 9. To the forward portion of the main bowl wall I2 is secured afitting 64 on which a sheave 66 is mounted and around which the cable 6|passes just prior to extending over a pulley 61 mounted on the frame 9.The passage of the cable Bl over the pulleys 63 and 61, and especiallyover the sheave 66, constitutes a speed reduction in that for each unitthat the cable 6| moves in a I commercial, embodiment, movement,linearly of the cable 6| through one unit of distance produces only atenth or twelfth of that amount of movement of the fitting 64 and hencean even smaller rising or falling movement of the cutting edge I 6.

'I'he mentioned movement of the cable 6| is provided by a second winchstructure, generally designated 12, incorporating "a. second winch drum"having a driving connection 19 to the shaftj46 and a resisting brake84, all under the control of an operating lever 98 normally urged towardone position by a spring 69 under the control-bf an. adjustment 9| forregulating the maximum resistance to paying-out of the cable 6|. It.will be observed that while the drive shaft 46 rotates the drums 16 and36 in opposite directions on the stationary shaft 34, the cables 3| and6| are wound upon such drums in opposite directions; so that both thecables 3| and 6| are tensioned by a movement toward the right handinFig. l and are slackened by a movement toward the left hand in thatfigure.

With the arrangement of winches and cables described, variouspossibilities of operation are presented. Various effects can beproduced at different times by changing the adjustments 4| and 9| andbyvaryingthe speed reduction or ratioefl'ectuated by the sheave; but inan exemplary arrangement the earth mover is shown inFig. 1 as in anexcavating position with the pusher'in a position slightly forward ofits extreine rearward position. If, then, it is desired to raise thecutting edge I6 from excavating or cutting posititon and to close thefront apron so as to carry the previously excavated material,

this can be done in at least two ways. In the first way, the controllever 38 can be moved so that the drum 36 is in neutral position,allowing no restraint whatsoever to be imposed by the cable 3|, and thecontrol lever 88' canthen be operated so as to take in or draw in thecable 6|. Since the resistance to rearward movement of the pusher andfront apron is relatively slight, usually being less than that of themain bowl to be raised, the carriage I 9 is first drawn rearwardly untilsuch time as a part of itfor example, the plate 24abuts a stop 96defining the rearmost position of the pusher with respect to the mainbowl. As soon asthe pusher strikes such stop, it cannot move farther,but further move ment is not necessary since in such position the frontapron isclosed or is in its lowermost position. Continued tension uponthe cable 6|,

however, results in lifting the fitting 64 so that the cutting edge I6is raised, for example into the position shown in Fig. 2. In suchposition the controls 88 and 38 are released by the operator and bothreturn by the springs 39 and 89 into maximum restraining position sothat the parts are held as positioned. I

As a second manner of operation, assuming that the parts are initiallyas shown in Fig. 1, it is notnecessary first to manipulate the lever 38to release the cable 3|, but such lever can be left in its normalposition in which the drum 36 is frictionally restrained.- If, then,'thelever 89 is manipulated to connect the drum 16 to the source of power,the cable 6| is tensioned and operates against two resistances, one ofwhich is composed of the resistance to movement of the pusher and frontapron, which is relatively slight, plus the resistance to unwindingimposed upon the cable 3| by the brake 44, whereas theother resistanceis the resistance to lifting of the main bowl as proportioned by thespeed reducing mechanism including the sheave 66. The cable 6|, beingtensioned. will then first effectuate whichever of the two movementsinvolves the least resistance, and, if the adjustment 4| is so disposed,taking in of the cable 6| will first move the pusher rearwardly andclose the front apron and, when the stop 96 is struck, as before, thecutting edge It will then be raised.

0n the other hand, if the adjustment 4| is such that the resistance torising of the cutting edge I6 is less than the resistance to rearwardmovement of'the pusher and front apron plus the resistanbe of the brakeu, then thecutting edge l6 will. be lifted as the main bowl is lifted,at least until such time as the side walls I! strike an upper stop 91 onthe frame 9. Contact between the main bowl and the frame stop 91increases the rising resistance, so that then the pusher and the frontapron will be drawn by the cable 6|, against the resistanceof the cable3|, into their rearmost position. At that time the lever B, beingreleased by the operator, returns to its normal restraining position sothat the parts are held in the position shown in Fig. 2.

'The various resistances referred to are made up of load resistances,frictional resistance to movement of the various parts, and resistancesdue to the weight of the various parts and their linkage as variouslyaffecting each other in different positions of the parts, as well as thefrictional brake resistance imposed by regulation of the adjustments 4|and 9|. In addition, while the adjustments 4| and 9| are shown asmaximum limits, either they can be varied during operation of themachine or, what'is more usual, the operator, by nicely regulating theposition of the levers 38 and 86, can likewise regulate the amount ofresistance ofiered'by either of the brakes 44 or 84 to the movement ofthe cable 3| or the cable 6| at any intermediate degree up to the setmaximum for each. Thus, the particular sequence of operations desiredunder any circumstances can readily be regulated either by nicemanipulation of the levers 36 and by the operator or by predeterminedregulation of the adjustments 4 and 9|, or by both.

Under most conditions of adjustment, however, it is characteristic ofthis arrangement that the drawing in of one of the cables 3| or 6| isaccompanied by a paying out of the other cable against a brake orfrictional resistance which is substantially constant throughout theentire movement of the cables. In some structures the drawing in ortensioning of one of the cables, although entirely unrelated to theother cable, is effective to compress or tension a resistance such as aspring, which is not constant but which increases rapidly or markedlyduring the cable movement, so that the conditions of operation altereven while an operation is taking place. In

the present instance, however, the resistance be- 7 ing preferably ofthe frictional type or having similar characteristics, is substantiallyconstant throughout the entire operation and, unlike a spring, need notbe reversed to be released the pusher and the front apron are then drawnforwardly and raised, accompanied by a free paying out of the cable 6|.As'another possibility,

the lever 88 can-be left alone and only the lever amount of resistanceoffered by the brake .84. ,If

this resistance is relatively slight, then the cutting edge will lower,as in the previous instance, but if the resistance is relativelygreat,the cutting edge will remain in uppermost position until theresistance is released by slight operation of'the lever 88.. Because ofthe speed reduction due to the'sheave 66 the amount of cable 6| whichmust be advanced in order to afford a A complete stroke of the pusherforwardly by taking in cable 3| and rearwardly by paying it out againstthedrop of the main bowl, even if no cable 6| whatsoever is taken in orpaid out, is accompanied by only arelatively smaller. rising and fallingmovement-of the main bowl and, consequently, the cutting edge ii.Therelation of the movements is two to one,as diagrammatically shown inthe drawings, but in closure and said discharging means with respect'co'mplete stroke of the pusher is suflicient to'produce only arelatively smaller movement of the main bowl.

commercial practice, as described above, the rela- .tion is usually tenor twelve to one.

In order to move the structure from the posi tion shown in Fig. 3 intothe positionshown in 4, the usual way is to leave the lever 3:8 in

' braked position so that the cable 31 is held, and

then to take in upon the cable ii so that this cable pulls against thecable 3| and also against the sheave 66, the resistance of movement of lwhich is less than the brake resistance of the drum 36 so that thischange in position is effectuated. Then, to move the structure from theposition shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig.

2, for example, the cable 6| can be taken in at the same .rate at whichthe cable 3| is paid out,-

in which instance the position of the cutting edge I 6 does not changebut the pusher moves rearwardly and the front apron closes. Conversely,

if the cable 3| is taken in at the same rate that the cable 6| is paidout,the position of the cute ting edge does not change but the pushermoves forwardly while the front apron opens-that is, from Fig. 2position intoFig. a position.

' While in the foregoing description the manipulation of the levers 38and 88 has been usually referred to as being from one extreme positiontoanother, or term intermediate neutral position,

andwhile the operation of the levers has been described sequentially, askilled operator in cornmercial practice moves the levers 38 and 88 invarying amounts, not'only to the extreme positions but ingradationstherebetween and also more or less simultaneouslmdepending upon the'weclaimz i o 1. An earth mover comprising an earth container, a closurefor one side of said container,

means for discharging earth from said container connected by a pivot tosaid closure, means independent of said pivot for articulating saidclosure on said container, and means for moving said to said container.

2. Anvearth mover comprising a main bowl, a

front apron, a pusher movable within said main. bowl and pivotallyconnected to'said front apron,

and a strut connection between said frontapron and said main bowl.

3. An earth mover comprising a main bowl, a front apron mounted at apredetermined location [on said main bowl, and a rigid earth pushermovable within said main bowl and pivoted on said front apron at adifferent location.

4. An earth mover comprising a main bowl, a front apron havingspacedmounting points movably mounted on said main bowl at one of saidpoints, a rigid earth pusher movable within said main bowL'and a directpivotal connection be tween said pusher and 'saidfront apron at an- 1other of said points.

5. An earth movercomprising an earth-com 'taining framework, meansforexpelling earth from said framework, means movable with respect tosaid framework for retaining, earth therein, ,a strut pivoted to saidframework and to said retaining means, and a pivotal connectionbetweensaid expelling means and said retaining means.

6. In a machine, of the class described, the combination of anearth-containing 'body; an end apron movably mounted upon said body, andtranslated load-removingmeans pivoted on said end'apron extending theentire width of the body and across the entire depth of said body whenthe end apron is wide open, for forcing a load in said body to beentirely removed therefrom.

'7. In an earth mover body, a transversely extending member movablewithin said body, a movable end apron adapted in one position to closethe end of said body, a strut mounted on v said body and connected withsaid end apron,

and a pivot connection between saidtransversely extending member andsaid end apron for con straining said transversely extending member andsaid end apron to move conjointly'.

particular maneuver which is to .be accomplished. Withthe describedarrangement, however, it

has been commercially demonstrated that with but two cables, such as 6|and 3i, connected to winches of the character shown, the pusher and thfront apron are positively moved conlointly and in opposite directionsby, power, and the cutting edge of the main bowl is raised and low eredas desired. 1

8., An earth mover comprising a main bowl, a a

pusher movable within said main bowl, afront apron pivoted on saidpusher to turn about a predetermined axis, and means for movably con-.

necting said front apron to said main bowl to turn about a plurality of.different instantaneous axes.

9. An earth mover comprising a main bowl, a pusher translatable withinsaid main bowl, a front apron pivoted to said pusher, and anarticulationbetween said front apronand said main bowl.

10. An earth mover comprising an earthcarrying bowl, a pusher mountedfor a predetermined ;movement within said bowl, 9. first power meanseffective when energized to move said pusher in'one direction of saidmovement and when de-energized to resist movement of said pusher in theother direction of said movement, and a second power means effectivewhen energized to move said pusher in said other direction and whende-energized to resist movement of'sald pusher in said direction.

11. An earth mover including an earthcarrying bowl, a pusher membermounted to move within said bowlin a first direction and in a second,opposite direction, a first power means eifective when energized to movesaid member in said first direction, a second power means effective whenenergized to move said member in said second direction, and means forimposing a substantially constant resistance to movement of said memberin said first direction and said second direction.

12. An earth mover comprising an earthcarrying bowl, a pusher membermounted to move within said bowl in a first direction and in a seconddirection, a first winch drum, a normally applied brake restraining saidfirst winch drum, a first cable connected to said first drum and to saidmember, means for releasing said brake and energizing said first drum towind in said first cable to move said member in said first direction, asecond winch drum, a normally applied brake restraining. said secondwinch drum, a second cable connected to said second drum and to saidmember, and means for releasing said brake and energizing said seconddrum to wind in said second cable to move said member in said seconddirection.

13. An earth mover comprising ground engaging means, an earth sustainingmember supported by said ground engaging means and adapted to be raisedand lowered with respect to the ground, an earth abutting membersupported by said ground engaging means and first cable connected tosaid first drum and to said earth abutting member, a second winch drum,a second normally applied brake thereon, a second cable connected tosaid second drum and to said earth sustaining member and to said earthabutting member, means for releasing said I first brake energizing saidfirst drum, and means adapted to be moved to and fro with respect tosaid earth sustaining member, a first winch ior releasing said secondbrake and energizing said, second drum.

14. An earth mover comprising an earth-containing bowl having an openend, a pusher constrained to'move through said bowl in a rectilinearpath, a pivot mounting on said pusher, and a front apron adaptedto'occupy said open end and connected to said pivot mounting.

15. An earth mover comprising an earth-containing bowl, a pusher withinsaid bowl, a pivot mounting ori said pusher constrained to move inarectilinear path, and a front apron connected to said pivot mounting.

16. In an earth mover, as a subcoinbination, a front apron having a pairof mounting pivots, means for constraining one of said pivots tomovement in an arc, means for constraining the other of said pivots tomovement in a straight line, and means for imparting a thrust to saidother pivot in the direction of said line.

17. An earth mover comprising an earth-containing bowl, an apron, meansconstraining said apron to lifting movement from a position closing saidbowl toward an open position, an earth pusher within said bowl andpivoted to said apron, and means applied to said pusher for raising saidapron.

ELLSWORTH W. AUSTIN. HARVEY W. ROCKWELL.

